Opened up my P3 Bulova Pacific Coast Athletic Association tournament trophy self winder (had to in order to remount the crown which had come unscrewed) expecting to find a Japanese movement, the 34.5 mm gold tone case is marked Bulova Hong Kong on the inside of the back, but found it has a Swiss made 17 jewel A Schilde movement. Difficult to read the really tiny markings even with a loupe but there appear to be the numbers 530822.

Here's all I've found on this movement. Here used in a P3 Bulova diver watch.


"This is an AS 530822, and seems to be the last gasp of the Swiss ebauche maker. In this case, no modifications have been done by Bulova, save to ink stamp their name on the rotor. "

"I should mention that the Hong Kong case is not unusual, higher end watch companies had been using cases made there since the late fifties. (And stamped 'Swiss' to boot) Bulova was not one of them until much later in the game. "

https://www.mybulova.com/forums/1983-bulova-divers-watch

My rotor looks a bit different, more simplified, possibly a bit larger in surface area. The finish of the movement parts of my watch is of a extremely high polish compared to the crude look of the diver's innards ,otherwise the movement appears to be identical.

My watch shows much nicer workmanship all around, as one might expect for a trophy watch.
Think I'll start looking for new case back and crown seals.

 

Bulova accutron, resurrected by Greg at woodland technical. Humming along happily.

 

Here’s my latest B23. I picked this up cause I keep seeing others here w this ref and I just had to see the dial for myself
Wayne, what strap do u recommend ?

 

Good morning Bulovistas! I recently bought the attached 1961 Bulova selfwinding, but have been unable to identify the model. Any thoughts? It's a bit of a curious piece in that it makes use of a monocoque "waterproof" case, however, the case is not stainless steel but, rather, 10k rolled white gold plate. To be honest, I bought the watch for the funky font used for the even numbered hour markers, which I thought my wife would like. The case measures approximately 33mm in diameter.

I am also attaching photos of a Bulova using stainless steel monocoque case, which I believe is a 1956 "Storm King". I really love the lines of this watch. The case diameter is also 33mm.

 

Found this NOS

 

I actually like the honey/saddle colored pigskin band the watch is sporting. I also like similarly colored croc embossed leather bands for these watches....the cases are chunky enough to carry the thickness of such bands. Here's a photo of one of my "23s" with a croc embossed band. I love the "23s"....a really fine bulletproof movement.

 

Mine says hi! Where the heck has that been? It’s just fantastic... congrats. $95 eh. Still keeping an eye out for the surfboard.

 

Thanks @Larry S . I know, the first time I saw I was surprised at the condition too. And it was recently serviced in April and feels brand new when winding. It’s totally luck that I found it. Yours looks in great condition too.

 

I picked this Bulova President Model from 1960 up today for $10 on a follow up visit to a yard sale on Saturday. One of those, "Let me find my Dad's/Grandfather's watch and I will call you in a few days" things that never pan out. Well, this one panned out. The watch works and has kept time for 4 hours. The dial is either radium burned or possibly oil stained? From a few quick looks online I believe I have gathered that this was a one year only model and is quite sort after. I found one post from 2012 saying 1 in nice condition, if you can find it is worth $400. I doubt this dial qualifies, but it does look better in person than I can capture on my cell phone camera. It is nice enough and looks enough like a Hamilton "Thor" which I have lusted after for a few years so that I will pick up a brown leather band for it tomorrow and wear it for a while. Can anyone confirm it is a one year model and desirable as I have read. Any info anyone will give is much appreciated in advance.

McK

 

My guess is radium burned around the markers and oil seepage in the center.
A unusually symmetrical patina, the lighter center section looks like it was designed that way.
I'd certainly leave the dial as is, not that bad looking and quite a conversation piece.

Love the triangular case.

 

Don't worry, I won't be messing with it.........and if it is a one year wonder, I doubt a NOS or better dial could be sourced. I will add pics in a day or two of it on my wrist. Thanks for the reply.

McK

 

My only Bulova, something I inherited from my father. Not sure what to do with it honestly, since the 33.5mm size is a bit to small for me. My wife expressed interest in it, so I had it serviced, but she apparently doesn't wear it either.

 

Maybe if she picked out a new strap for she would change her mind.

 

Good idea, that could work. Of course, one doesn't find a tremendous variety of short-length 17mm straps.

Frankly, I think that the gold case is the bigger issue. She has gravitated to all white-gold jewelry in recent years.

 

Here's my Accutron Spaceview I bought last week:

 

I love it....congratulations! Looking forward to more photos.

 

Hi McKinley, very nice pickup of the 1960 President!
There were actually six models released in that year, here is the full lineup.
Mine is the 'F' model.

 

@bobbee, thank you for that pic. I knew there was more than my one model, but had not seen all six in one ad like that. Do you know if they were in fact all one year issues or if the President D was at least ? I would assume in a series like this there are collectors out there trying to acquire all six. Bulova had some unique and interesting watches of it's own back in the day. Thanks again.

McK

 

I have only seen models in this range from 1960, going by case and movement numbers.
I have only seen a handful of any of the models, and only one collector who has all six models!

https://www.watchophilia.com/photogallery/bulovas-1960-1969/

This is Lisa from West Virginia, a good friend of mine until she dropped off the radar.
Her collection numbers over 1,000 with a couple of hundred not added to her site.
Have a look around her site, you will not be disappointed!

 

Her's was the site I looked at yesterday and identified the watch as only being produced in 1960. It is not in her pics of models from '59 or 6
'61. Small world.....internet included. ;-)
McK